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Joined:
July 2016
Posts: 3
Location: Milton Keynes, UK | Hi - I recently bought a 2006 Collectors Koa model with VIP-5 preamp. When I first changed the battery (which was tricky because the preamp module was a ridiculously tight fit in the receptacle, and I've since had to carefully file away some of the moulding surfaces just to achieve a slightly easier fit), I was surprised to see a tangle of eight separate wires running between the preamp and the pc board in the base of the receptacle. It's extremely difficult to push these wires all sufficiently out of the way without snagging or trapping them in order to re-insert the preamp. The wires all appear to have been soldered directly to the board and to terminals (four either side of a black plastic moulding, with evidently solder heat damage) projecting from the underside of the preamp module. I had expected to see either some sort of push-fit connector, as in my Tangent model, or at least a neat cable with plug ends. Unsurprisingly, the soldered connections have started to fail after a few battery changes. I'm sure this is a bodged repair job. I'm wondering what the original wiring/connector etc should have looked like, and whether the black plastic moulding projecting from the preamp is, in fact, the innards of a plug - I've tried gently to pull this away from the preamp but it won't move and I don't want to force it. I can probably re-solder the connections, but they will still be at risk of damage etc every time I change a battery. I'm in the UK and, if I can't fix this myself, I'm wondering if there's a Ovation specialist near London I could take it to. Any advice and suggestions etc would be gratefully received, please.
Regards,
Bob Moore. | |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Hi Bob...
First, about the Module being tight it the "can" or receptacle that holds the preamp...
Usually that could be fixed by loosening the two Phillips-head bolts that hold the can in the body.
Second, about the wiring... Those wires are NOT supposed to be connected to the module.
There are supposed to be "tab" on the Module that connect to a socket in the can.
Just like on your Tangent. Somebody screwed-up your preamp.
As to finding an Ovation specialist in London...
There are some Ovation Fan Club Members there.
Also... GEWA MUSIC GMBH www.gewamusic.com Phone: +49 37423 / 778-0
But they are in Germany.
I would just contact the folks in New Hartford, CT USA. http://www.ovationguitars.com/contact
I also would just look for a new preamp and can.
I know that doesn't help much... 
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Joined:
July 2016
Posts: 3
Location: Milton Keynes, UK | Thanks Arthur. Yes, I thought the wiring arrangement couldn't be original! I'll contact Ovation as you suggest but if anyone in the UK or London has any suggestions, I'd be glad to hear! | |
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VIP-5 preamp wiring/connector